“Obviously, I am very disappointed to lose my seat with WSR after so many years with the team and after the success that we have enjoyed together, but I send my best wishes to Tom Oliphant for a successful season,” said Collard Sr.

“It means that I am now on the market and I can look at all of my options, be those in the British Touring Car Championship or in the British GT Championship.

“I am able to explore avenues that I haven’t even looked at before so these are going to be some exciting times. I am fighting fit and raring to go and I am just looking forward.”

Collard first joined the BTCC in the second-division Class B in 2000, and took his first victory in the top flight in 2005 at Knockhill in a WSR-run MG.

He has taken 15 career BTCC wins, all but two of them in BMW machinery.